City Council

Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on February 2, 2021 -1– ______________________________________________________________________________ The Work Session meeting of the Petersburg City Council was held on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, live streamed. Mayor Parham called the meeting to order at 12:03p.m. 1. ROLL CALL: Present: Council Member Charles H. Cuthbert, Jr. Council Member Treska Wilson-Smith Council Member W. Howard Myers Council Member Darrin Hill Vice Mayor Annette Smith-Lee Mayor Samuel Parham Absent: Council Member John A. Hart, Sr (arrived after roll call) Present from City Council Administration: City Manager Aretha R. Ferrell-Benavides City Attorney Anthony C. Williams Clerk of Council Nykesha D. Jackson 2. PRAYER: Mayor Parham stated, “Councilman Hill will lead us in our opening prayer.” Council Member Hill led the council meeting in prayer. 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Parham led council and the citizens in the pledge of allegiance. 4. DETERMINATION OF THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM: A quorum is present. Council Member Hart is absent. 5. SPECIAL REPORTS: a. Report and Discussion on Boards and Commission Council Member Treska Wilson-Smith gave an update on boards and commissions. Key points:  City needs to move forward with selecting and filling out boards and commissions.  List in packet details all the boards and commissions that are listed on the back of the application.  The boards in yellow are the current active boards and commissions.  Needs to be stated and discussed of how many people are needed on the boards and commissions and if it is staff or citizens.  Suggestions of rules and regulations have been sent to council and need to be looked on what changes that suggest or agree with.  By the next meeting would like to vote on draft information pertaining to process of the *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on February 2, 2021 -2– ______________________________________________________________________________ regulating the boards and commissions.  Clerk of Council redid the layout of the application for boards and commissions. Ms. Jackson stated, “Also, with the list that you have up, most of the boards are actually other entities that are outside of the City. The ones that are in the City like Social Services, Planning Commission, ARB and Economic Development Authority. All the other boards on that list are different organizations in which we do not control how they run their board. But as far as like the Planning Commission and ARB, they already have in place that if you miss three meetings, they automatically send a letter to our office, in which I send out, removing them from the board.” Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “Thank you. Can you send that in writing because I will not remember that right now?” Ms. Jackson stated, “Yes.” Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “Thank you. So, you will have that information as well from Ms. Jackson. Mrs. Benavides, did you have something to say?” Mrs. Benavides stated, “Yes. Part in what I think in what we have been going back and forth on this is that I think in some City’s that I have seen in the best practice is that on an annual basis and even when you do your business meeting every year that you review that list and make sure that there are vacancies, and it becomes a natural process. When I was over intergovernmental before what we would do on an annual basis, even if the appointee stays it is still that review. And the final thing that is missing and I think that me and Mrs. Treska spoke about it, is that another thing that we have not done a good job of and we need to add and possible to the work session is an update from each of these committees at least one a month. Because we will give you an update like on ARWA, but we are not doing it regularly. Same thing with Riverside and the ones that I even do as City Manager. I think that it is important for you to know. Because the things that are happening could impact our budget as well as even having the Planning Commission here to give an update at your work session quarterly if nothing else.” Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “Thank you. And Gerrit has put on our page so that you can see the proposed process and proposed rules. This is all a draft, and this is not concrete. This is a draft for us to look at and we can make changes to the process and rules. Please send any changes to Ms. Jackson as well as me and to Aretha. And I believe that concludes my report.” Mayor Parham stated, “Thank you Council Member Wilson-Smith. Currently, I was just looking at several of the ones that I sit on which was Gateway and Crater Planning. I do not see the ones like Workforce Development Board that I sit on here listed. Am I missing it?” Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “No. I do not think that you are missing it. I think that it is not on there. I apologize for that.” Mayor Parham stated, “We want to add that one as well. And the next one is that I sit on the MPO Transit Committee with Charles Koonce. If you can add that one as well.” Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “Does that go under boards and commissions? MPO?” Mayor Parham stated, “Yes, it is because we have a staff member on it. And we also have a member of council that sits on it. I have been sitting on it for the last four or five years. And I think one of the biggest things that we need to look at as well is to create alternates for when someone who is serving especially on council who cannot be at the meeting to have an alternate council person that can sit in. I know that at past meetings *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on February 2, 2021 -3– ______________________________________________________________________________ of the Workforce Development, Councilman Myers has set in some when I was not able to make it. They kind of coincide. I would like to also get a fill from members of council of any of them that you would be willing to serve as an alternate or serve as the council designee as well to keep everyone involved.” Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “You want to people to send you an email if they want to do that? Mayor Parham stated, “Yes, that would be great.” Mrs. Benavides stated, “As the Mayor started thinking I just thought about it that PART is not on there, the regional tourism, which I think that I sit on and others attend. On my transition plan, I had a list of all the different things that I go to, whether they are committee or not. But I think that it is important, some of them require you all to formally appoint and some of them are virtual title. I think that it is important from a tracking standpoint that we know what is out there. So, I thought about PART and there is one other that I do not remember but I will find it. We will send it out to staff and with staff if they are on something, we may not even realize that they represent the City, but we try to get that so that it will be in front of council too.” Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “We will add Workforce Development, MPO, PART and Regional Tourism. And if you think of anymore, please send the email to Nykesha, me, and Mrs. Benavides so, that we can complete the list. Once the list is complete, we will send it to you again by way if email so that you can have a full look at it and make some decisions about that list. Because that is the first step. We have got to have a list that includes everything. Thank you. Thank you, Nykesha.” Council Member Hill stated, “I am glad that we are doing this. And thank Treska Wilson-Smith, councilwoman, for taking the initiative. My man concern, and the City Manager hit on it, is them reporting back to us. Even if it is done through the individual that is on there. Where we can at least get a quarterly report if not a monthly report on where they are with their meetings and things like that and whatever it is that they are working on. We pretty much know with the planning department because it particularly comes before us. But a lot of these other boards and commissions they do not come before us unless something comes in our packet. So, that is my main concern and making sure that we have diversity on these boards and commissions and diversity within the City. Meaning throughout the wards. We should not have four people from one ward on a particular board or anything like that. I just want it to be balanced throughout the whole City. So, those are my concerns, and I will bring those up at the appropriate time in the email or whether at our next meeting. But thank you.” b. COVID-19 Update Darnetta Tyus, Deputy City Manager, gave an update on COVID-19. Key points:  Council received a report in their email.  Petersburg case are now at 2,437 and the death total continues at 37.  Of the 2,437 cases, 1,959 have now been cleared. There are 107 active cases.  There is a system called BAMS that helps with getting people registered for the vaccine that the City is using. The State is switching to a system that is user friendly than what the City experienced in this first round.  Testing is continuing to happen in the Crater District and in the City of Petersburg. Testing is taking place at 400 Farmer Street as drive-up testing. You must register at 804-862-8989 (central number to register)  Petersburg is giving vaccinations on Saturdays consistently. Crater District, starting today, there will be ten vaccination sites and events for about a week. There will three additional Saturdays and sites for vaccinations for the school system. *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on February 2, 2021 -4– ______________________________________________________________________________  Health Department has agreed to allow each jurisdiction to assist by setting up call centers that are devoted to registering for the vaccinations.  The Health Department’s Team is in a planning session to be able to provide the various sites for vaccinations, so they are not able to attend.  The State has set up a centralized system that they will all be feeding from with the same data and information. Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “The VAMS site that is being changed to something more user friendly. Keeping in mind that we are trying to get citizens 65 and over vaccinated. Did you all consider that they may not be computer savvy no matter friendly you make it.” Ms. Tyus stated, “The whole purpose of setting up the call center is that if they have a phone, we can help do it ourselves. So, when you call the way that it will conceptually work is that you call into the health department center. And you identify what jurisdiction that you are calling from. So, you press number one for Petersburg and those calls will come to our call center. Where the team that is working there is registering you over the phone. So, that is the exact reason why we ask them to allow us to help so that we can accommodate our seniors who may not be computer savvy.” Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “There is a big difference in the numbers that you send us and the numbers that VDH put out. I do not understand why.” Ms. Tyus stated, “Can you give me an example? So, there is a timing difference. There is a timing difference between information being dumped into the central state system and the information that we get here. They have explained it to us several times that there will always be a timing difference. And so, you can give me an example of something, and we can try to help understand why something. But there is always going to be a timing difference between getting information out of the statewide system. The statewide system must get information from localities to create their numbers. Whereas the locality the numbers that we are doing are more localized.” Mrs. Benavides stated, “Ms. Tyus this is not our form. This is the form that comes straight from our Crater District, right?” Ms. Tyus stated, “Exactly.” Mrs. Benavides stated, “So, this is the Crater form. They give this to us on our daily briefing.” Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “I know that we said previously, and I know that we do have the once a person has COVID then there someone from the health department who does the contact tracing. So, we are addressing the issue after we know something about the person. I have asked a couple of times before what we are doing to prevent or something at the other end. And so, I came up with an idea, if you do not mind, and that is that we establish a COVID Taskforce. And those persons would be within the community. They would go around different sites in the community to see if there is a congregation of more people than we should have such as eateries and clubs. Those people go to various churches on Sunday to see about congregations if they are doing it. Those people who would go to the hotels. See if they are following protocol. Those people would always be armed with mask and hand sanitizer to need wherever they go. But it would put us ahead of the people who are getting COVID. We pay the money through the COVID funding for the contact tracers. Would there be enough left to put such a plan in place. And is the idea valuable?” Ms. Tyus stated, “I would want to talk to you a little more about that. So, COVID is real. So, let us talk a little bit more about that. I am not sure how to envision that right now.” *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on February 2, 2021 -5– ______________________________________________________________________________ Council Member Wilson-Smith state, “And the last thing, thank you for contacting the health department. I want to be polite and certainly understanding but the citizens are coming to us with questions. It is difficult to give anyone an honest answer. And I am only going to give an answer if it is honest if we do not know. And I can tell people to go on this website or make this call but that is not an answer to me. I would like to give answers that let the citizens know that I truly understand what you are going through. For someone who has had COVID I understand what you are going through. But although your report is good, I have no answers really. And I wanted the health department here or somebody. It did not have to be the whole team but one person to come out and ask us things and answer things for us. So, it becomes a little unacceptable that nobody could come.” Mayor Parham stated, “I just wanted to chime in on that. I have had the same concerns about not having a clear message to give to our citizens here. And I talked with Senator Joe Morrissey office and we are setting up to do a COVID answer zoom on next Wednesday at 9:00am. I just talked to his office this morning and I was asking him. Because the Crater Health District works for the State. And Senator Morrissey is the Senator for the State and he says that he will have a zoom with us next Wednesday at 9:00am. If you can be there and state a lot of concerns and hopefully get some of our questions answered as far as getting a clear and precise message out to the citizens of Petersburg.” Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “I thank you for that. I did get the email and I did put that on my calendar to meet with him then. But in between now and February 10th when we meet, we still have no answers for the citizens. That is the sad part.” Mrs. Benavides stated, “In our Crater Regional City Management call that has been the biggest challenge that we are having. And not throwing rocks at anyone but I do believe that a part of that challenge is that everyone is looking for answers. And as we start to try to get those answers it is not that they do not have them its that they do not know. And they do not have the staff to answer some of them. And working on getting to this process that is why the call center came up is that the elected officials, city manager, and everyone is tired of getting beat up because we just do not know. And I think that the Crater District is trying to answer what they know but they do not know either and they have some limits in what they can do as a district. And that is where we do not want to get them in trouble with their bosses at the state. But Senator Morrissey and these other folks are trying to help us to get what we need. From testing, from follow-ups, from all the immunization that is necessary and how this process is being rolled out it has become a big question. If we can schedule something with them, and I can tell you that we met with him yesterday and listened to what they said, and it did not make me feel better. Because I realized that they just do not have answers that we are looking for. But if we can even keep trying to get them on schedule, I know that I mentioned to the Mayor on possibly having a special council meeting on next week to have as part of a topic.” Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “Can anyone tell me when the health department was contacted to attend this meeting.” Ms. Tyus stated, “I think that I mentioned it to them earlier. I focused on it earlier this week. They did not have a lot of time. If the manager can chime in, we are in at least four standing meetings with the health department every week and it is exhausting. And the information that is coming out of there is the information that we are giving. And many of the questions they do not have answers for. I will acknowledge that when you reiterated to me a couple of days ago, I did follow up with them then. They did not have weeks for it. So, I will take the responsibility for the fact, but they would not have been able to make it today anyway.” Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “They may not have been able to make it, but it would not have been on us that we did not contact them in a timely manner. We can go public. This is a public meeting. So, what we are saying is that the health department could not come today because they had meetings and things. And that is the actual answer for them. That is not fair to them and that is why they could not come. Okay I am *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on February 2, 2021 -6– ______________________________________________________________________________ done.” Council Member Hill stated, “Thank you for your report Ms. Tyus. One of my questions was do we know how many people have been vaccinated in the City of Petersburg thus far.” Ms. Tyus stated, “I can get you that number. What they have been sharing with us is the number of doses that they are getting on a weekly basis. So, I can get you the number. I do not have that here with me.” Mrs. Benavides stated, “So, that is one of the conversations that we have been having. And in all fairness to them. They have focused very heavily, and I have even put my foot in my mouth with working with the City of Petersburg. Some of the other localities are having a lot of difficulties than we are. In fact, I mentioned that we had actually moved it into our public safety to realize that we were the only ones who had out public safety group completely vaccinated.” Council Member Hill stated, “okay. If you could give ma percentage of how many people in the City of Petersburg that are getting vaccinated daily. If you can get that number. Also, I know that we try not to throw people up under the bus, but had Petersburg not done something right or something like that we would be the first ones that people be throwing Petersburg up under the bus. So, although you say that they do not know they can appear before us. Even if they are giving the same numbers that the Deputy City Manager has given us, they can appear before us. They have responsibility to this community, to this region and to this area. So, for us to sit up here and say that we were not giving them enough notice they should want to get out before this. Because the Governor, he has briefings all the time. Briefings in which he gives and brings it down here to us. Someone needs to come before this council and tell us something. And I understand that you all are in meetings, but I am just like all the other members of council. We get phone calls every day saying where can I get vaccinated and who do I go see and what is the number. Everybody wants this vaccination. Especially with us being a predominantly African American area. We are high risk in everything, and we are at the bottom of everything. Our area should get that focus. I am not beating up on anybody, but I do know whenever something goes on in the City of Petersburg we get thrown up under the bus. And I am tired of being everybody’s whipping board especially when they are not stepping up to the plate and doing what they get paid to do. They have a responsibility to the citizens of Petersburg. And Crater District along with our Health Department, Dr. Hart, and all of them. I am not talking about this call. We have been dealing with COVID ever since eight or nine months. And we have not heard anything in person from them. That is unsatisfactory and we pray that this meeting and we should not have to call Senator Morrissey. It should be automatic. So, I am hoping that this meeting on next Wednesday will be a positive one but a serious one. Because our citizens need this vaccination. And we are talking about opening schools here soon. I am glad to hear that the school system will be getting vaccinated. Hopefully, bus drivers and everybody who is in the school system. But thank you for what you are doing Ms. Tyus. I am not whipping up on you. But be careful about what you say with saying that was on you. Because at the end of the day they are health professionals, and you are not. You just help facilitate. Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Members of Council.” Council Member Cuthbert stated, “Thank you. I share the frustration that has been expressed here. I am going to withhold putting my frstuations into words until I see how the meeting goes Wednesday of next week. But I trust that it will be a productive meeting because the goal of all of us at this point is to be effective in helping our citizens. And I struggle with the question of how do I be most effective. Do I lay my frustrations on the table in public or do I see what happens Wednesday week? Right now, I am in the mode to see what happens Wednesday week. I share the frustration for good reason. We have people dying and we have people in great fear of dying and it is probably the most serious issue that has become before this council in 50 or 25 years. It is a matter of life and death. So, it well deserves everyone attention and we all need to work towards finding a solution. Ms. Tyus let me turn to your comment about vaccinations that are going in Petersburg this Saturday. I have had three members of the public contact me in the over 65 age group. They are quite concerned. They have not been able to get the vaccine. They dearly want to receive the vaccine. Is there place *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on February 2, 2021 -7– ______________________________________________________________________________ that they can sign up for this coming Saturday to receive the vaccine or the Saturday after that. Or do they forgotten and have to hope for the best?” Ms. Tyus stated, “There are probably two answers to that. If you are in Phase 1A or Phase 1B and they are in Phase 1B, you can call 862-8989. But that is what we are trying to help relieve. You are getting frustrated calling that number and the system is overwhelmed. What we are sharing with people is that we are setting up call centers now. We are working out the details so that we can help assist with the registration. The call center focus right now will be on the 65 plus. And that is because we recognize that even with the simpler system that is still not going to get us where we need to be in terms of assisting our 65 and plus and getting them registered.” Mrs. Benavides stated, “Ms. Tyus, I think what will help, because we talked, and I assume that everyone understands that 1A and 1B and all the conversation, who did the classifications and how was that 1A and 1B done?” Ms. Tyus stated, “That is a State mandate. The State determined what the phasing would be and who would be in those categories. Category 1A was intended to be your hospital, your medical workers, your long- term care facilities, and that kind of thing. Category 1B was to start your emergency, EMS, and critical staff. In our region we started prematurely with the emergency, police, fire, and EMS crew. We started on those but that is defined by the state and not by Crater Region or us.” Mrs. Benavides stated, “But the Governor then came back and said on the Virginia Department of Health, and I am looking at this site now, it has a break down of how the citizens are being rolled out. Some groups finished one category faster because some individuals were simply not interested in going through and doing the vaccination. But there is a 1A, 1B and even a 1C plan. The Governor has recently announced about moving seniors up faster. As we remember, when they started out, they started out just strictly healthcare workers. But what you are discovering and even in our category is that there are individuals even healthcare workers that are saying I am not interested in this phase in having the COVID vaccination. So, versus holding onto them what they are looking at moving into other phases and moving through it. The other challenge you have with this is that you have is right now is that there are two approved vaccinations out there. One is the Moderna and the other is the Pfizer. We are now going to be receiving the Pfizer vaccination which I think that they are going to specifically focus on with us with the educational group and school aids. They have different maintenance requirements as far as the storage and things like that that are required. And so, as you look at this process and how is being rolled out the people that have the first COVID show would have to have a second. So, there has been discussion on the news about holding off for the people to have enough for the second vaccination. I think that the Governor’s Office, and I think that is why the Senator is important in this conversation, is trying to find their way through this process on how to handle this in making sure that they have enough vaccinations coming to cover both does which are required. And I think that with the Senator the conversation is that I do not believe that there was any conversation with staff including our staff of elected officials when they started coming up with this phase approach. This is the same approach that is not just being used in the State of Virginia but throughout the United States.” There was discussion among City Council and staff. c. Update on Petersburg Public Library Wayne Crocker, Director of Petersburg Public Library, gave a PowerPoint presentation on the Petersburg Public Library. Key points:  There is a rear entrance on the center. *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on February 2, 2021 -8– ______________________________________________________________________________  They have added about 35 more parking spaces. There are almost 65 spaces on the grounds now and once completed there will be about 100 parking spaces in the lot. There is also on street parking as well.  There will not be fixed seating in the conference and event center. They can accommodate auditorium style and seat 375 people and banquet style that would seat about 200 people. There can be training in the space as well.  The acoustic will be great.  There is a stage in the center, and they have chosen to raise the height of the stage so everyone in the back can see as well.  The kickoff was May 2019. There was a check presentation in July 2019.  Major donors were The Cameron Foundation, The Cabell Foundation and The City of Petersburg. They have raised $1.7 million dollars of the $2.5 million dollar goal from 143 donors.  Groundbreaking was October 29, 2020 and the construction began on November 16, 2020. The site work has been done, installed site utilities, excavated, and poured concrete footings, erected structural steel, installed roof decking, and poured concrete slab.  The project is on schedule to receive its certificate of occupancy June 17, 2021. It depends on the weather and fundraising. There was discussion among City Council and staff. d. Update on Social Services Department Norris Stevenson, Director of Social Services, gave a PowerPoint presentation on the social services department. Key points:  From 2010 to 2018 there was reduced population.  The current poverty level for the City of Petersburg is 22%. The poverty level for children is 35%. 13% of the residents in Petersburg do not have health insurance.  The number of people accessing the benefits from the Petersburg Department of Social Services (PDSS) has grown. Currently there are more than 20% people that use the PDSS programs. That is 64% of the City’s population.  SNAP Population has only increased by 2%.  Medicaid population increased by 11% from last year.  There were challenges of COVID-19, relocating agency to 3811 Corporate Road, Standardization of Operations, and staffing.  PDSS accomplished restructuring the benefits program workflow, steady increase in key performance indicators and staff adapting to telework. There was discussion among City Council and staff. e. Future of the City of Schools Partnership Leanne Lytle, Director of Community Impact, gave an update on the future of the City of Schools Partnership. Key points:  It was founded in 2015 from Governor McAuliffe Children’s Cabinet to address chronic absenteeism in Petersburg.  An accomplishment of the program is the development of the “Petersburg Magic Card”. *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on February 2, 2021 -9– ______________________________________________________________________________  Have a partnership through the Department of Housing and Community Development and St. Joseph Villa.  Had successful advocacy in bringing commercial workers into schools through the Department of Social Services.  Crimson Clinic at Petersburg High School has come on board that addresses the mental and emotional behavior and medical needs of students at the high school. It is a partnership with Central Virginia Health Services who is now the medical sponsor of this project. Dr. Maria Pitre-Martin, Superintendent of Petersburg Public Schools, gave an update on the future of the City of Schools Partnership. Key points:  Thanked United Way for their assistance in facilitating this process through the years. It is a sign as progress in working with the City that they are ready to take on this process.  The mission is to create the climate and conditions for every child to succeed by providing a sustainable, coordinated system of supports and access.  Vision is to support the Petersburg City Public School Division in providing a quality education that ensure every child is college ready with marketable skills and industry certification.  Goal of advance a shared agenda for child and family success.  Provide technical assistance to identify or develop effective programs, strategies, and models for child and family success.  Assist partners and diverse stakeholder groups in attracting resources to programs and support activities directly related to the Partnership’s mission-driven agenda.  Advocate for policy changes to ensure resources and direct support for child and family uplift and pathways out of poverty.  Monitor the environment for emerging issues and trends to be more proactive than reactive to potential risks and opportunities.  The priorities consist of bridging the gap between workforce and the high school, attendance and trauma-responsive and resiliency in Petersburg. Ms. Tyus gave an update and some key points with the PowerPoint presentation. Key points:  The Minority Strategy Committee Members were created with members from throughout the City.  Participated in Governor Northam Petersburg Health Equity Pilot Project.  Presented COVID 19 Petersburg Resource Guide in English and Spanish.  Presented a Back-to-School Backpack Initiative.  Assisted in contacting students, who were “no shows” at beginning of the school year.  Assisted in connecting students to the Crimson Clinic for overdue school vaccination.  Assisted School Department with Feed the Need Initiative. Mayor Parham stated, “Thank you for the presentation it was wonderful. I would like to thank the United Way, Ms. Lytle, Dr. Pitre-Martin, and Ms. Tyus for taking the lead on the City’s behalf in coordinating and keeping all these good works on moving down the road. We just want to keep the momentum that we have going.” 6. MONTHLY REPORTS: a. General Assembly Legislative Update *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on February 2, 2021 - 10 – ______________________________________________________________________________ India Adams-Jacobs, Assistant to City Manager, gave a PowerPoint presentation on the legislative agenda. Key points:  Session began on January 15th and is slated to end on February 11th.  The Crossover is on Saturday, February 6th  This is a short session (30 days, instead of 45 days); 2021 is off budget year.  There are bill limits for both Senate and House.  The House is meeting virtually and Senate meeting in person with limitations due to COVID.  The legislative items are criminal justice, social justice, and economy.  There are four active bills that are dealing with legalization of marijuana. Some were killed and there are some still active.  Legislative request for infrastructure upgrades for pharmaceutical manufacturing economic development in the amount of $10,000,000 from the general fund to fund expenses incurred from the installation of a water tank and associated infrastructure at Pharmaceutical Park complex in the City of Petersburg.  Delegate Aird- The School Equity & Staffing Act (HB1929) to amend the SOQ to establish units in the Department of Education to oversee Work-Based Learning, Principal Mentorship, Teacher Leader and Teacher Mentor Programs. The physical impact is $462.3 million dollars.  Senator Morrissey – Criminal records, certain; established a process for the automatic expungement report (SB1339) for the expungement and sealing of police and court records. The physical impact is $50,000.  Bill HB2333 on COVID Administration of the Vaccine and it was passed on yesterday. It increases the ability for increased volunteers to allow for the administration of the vaccine. They allocated $119,000 for this year as well as $432,000 for next year. 7. FINANCE AND BUDGET REPORT: Mrs. Benavides stated, “We are in the process of scheduling to present the CAFR to council in a special council meeting hopefully prior to our next business meeting on the 16th, preferably about 10:00am. We have received the first draft of the document. They are still working. Mrs. Adams-Jacobs will you give us an update? We have the first draft, and we are just working on a response and we will have more information. But the draft is complete. We will be presenting the formal CAFR to council on February 16th, prior to our regular business meeting. Ms. Patrice, is there anything that you need to add from a finance standpoint?” Ms. Elliott stated, “Thank you for providing the CAFR update. I just want to let everyone know that we did issue the w-2’s for this year. So, those have been sent out to all the employees. We did issue the 1099s to all the vendors this year as well. We gave an update at the last meeting about the lending and bank accounts. I spoke with SunTrust yesterday and they are pleased with the progress that we have been making.” Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “At the last council meeting I asked for a report on all of the grants that had been given. The total amount that had been given to us for grants. So, I am looking for that at this meeting.” Ms. Elliott stated, “Okay council member I do not see Robert Floyd on the line.” Mrs. Benavides stated, “Oh I am sorry. I need to apologize. There is a reason why. Mr. Floyd had a family issue that he had to deal with, so he is not on this call. As she said that I remembered that he did. We will get that information to council for a formal presentation at the next presentation meeting. When the *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on February 2, 2021 - 11 – ______________________________________________________________________________ conversation first came about on CARES funding it was scheduled to end initially on the 21st in January. At this point of time, we have through the end of the year. So, we have not returned any funding. There is no funding to expire. But he was working on that and he did have a family issue.” Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “Thank you.” 8. CAPITAL PROJECTS UPDATE: a. PowerPoint Presentation on St. Andrews Street Bridge Replacement, Park-N-Ride, and Citywide LED Streetlight Conversion. Mr. Lyons stated, “Mr. Mayor, I have asked Mrs. Innis to do the presentation. She and her staff, Mr. Temi, have been doing an outstanding job. Some of you have also, as we get through this presentation will have specific questions more than that I know as it relates to LED lighting. We have been moving forward with all three of these projects. Mrs. Innis will lead us through it and I standby to assist if you all have any questions. As Gerrit moves forward with bringing Mrs. Innis in as well as putting her PowerPoint presentation up I would ask her to take the lead on this. After each of those presentations we will entertain any questions that you may have.” Tangela Innis, Director of Utilities, stated, “Good afternoon. We bring before you our first presentation which is going to be on the St. Andrew Street Bridge. And the project manager for this project is going to be Mr. William Riggleman, Capital Improvement Project Manager.” Mr. Riggleman gave an update on the St. Andrews Street Bridge Project. Key points:  Existing bridge structurally deficient and closed to traffic in 2007.  Timmons Group began design engineering in August 2019.  An IFB was advertised in March 2020.  Contract was awarded to Franco’s Liberty Bridge, Inc in September 2020. The contractor is based in Maryland.  The contractor began work in September 2021.  Project will maintain existing lane widths, sidewalks, existing roadway profile and existing fieldstone walls.  There are two waterlines that will have to be relocated.  The new bridge will be constructed of concrete and will have metal railing. There was discussion among City Council and staff. Temidre Okeowo, Capital Projects Manager, gave a briefing on Petersburg Park-N-Ride Key points:  Guernsey Tingle was awarded the contract to handle the architectural design for the project.  100% design documents have been submitted for review and cleared.  An invitation for bid (IFB) has been put on the City’s website. The solicitation release was December 23, 2020. The pre-bid was January 7, 2021. Questions were due on January 28, 2021. Pre-bid receipts are on February 17, 2021 and the bid opening is February 18, 2021.  The project team agreed to select Precast Construction. A site visit was done to see how the process works.  It was agreed to have three electrical car charging stations in the construction plan. *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on February 2, 2021 - 12 – ______________________________________________________________________________  The Right-of-Way document has been signed and given back to Dominion Energy.  The total cost of the project is $8,000,000 and it is still going on as scheduled.  The project is funded by Department of Railroad and Public Transportation. Mrs. Innis stated, “Good afternoon Members of Council. As previously stated during our meeting in June 2016, we did start out LED project in Ward 4. But Mr. Temi is going to go over the project details and then we will tell you what we are proposing to do in our next phase. This is highlighting our first phase of the project. Where Dominion has ordered the parts for the first phase of the project. But we will entertain any questions that you have of this project at the end. Thank you. Temidre Okeowo, Capital Projects Manager, gave a briefing on Citywide LED Light Conversion. Key points:  The Department of Utilities and Capital Projects has initiated a project to convert outdated incandescent street lighting to modern LED street lighting.  The purpose od this project is to increase lighting, ensure safety and enhance the various landmarks.  There are 3,199 streetlights to be converted. The cost of conversion is $503,581.36 and the monthly savings is $10,637.15. The yearly savings is $127,645.80.  In Phase One there are 163 lights to be converted with a total of 34 streets.  City staff is also recommending continuing with Ward 5 in conjunction with the City’s Public Safety recommendations.  The project will be paid through the City’s Urban Allocation Dollars. If all lights are converted in a 1-year period, the payback period is 3.9 years. Council Member Cuthbert stated, “Thank you Mr. Mayor. This is a great project, and it is remarkable to have a project with a payback of less than four years. I cannot think of any downside to what is happening. While I have the microphone, let me tell everyone about a phone that I received during this meeting. It was from Judge Lupold from Petersburg General District Court and he told me that he had called the City last week to tell them there was a small leak in the courtroom and would they please tend to it. He had not received any response. He told me that now that it is a lot more than a small leak. That carpet has been ruined and ceilings are falling or threatening to fall. It sounds like real mess. It started in the courtroom and now it has extended to some extinct into the clerk’s office. So, I thought while I had all of the people on this zoom call who could make a difference that I would ask that they would address this as soon as feasible.” Mrs. Benavides stated, “We are going to give an update on this council member during the City Manager’s update.” Council Member Cuthbert, “Great. Thank you.” There was discussion among City Council and staff. There was discussion among City Council and staff. 9. UTILITIES: a. An update on the South Crater Road Emergency Waterline Replace Project. Mrs. Innis stated, “If we may Mr. Mayor go on to the Water and Sewer Presentation. I am going to ask Mr. Andrew Barnes and Mr. Ronell Johnson if they will participate in this presentation on the South Crater *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on February 2, 2021 - 13 – ______________________________________________________________________________ Road Emergency Waterline Replace Project. This project started during the winter month of December and it is still an ongoing project and process. So, they are going to do the presentation for us.” There was discussion among City Council and staff on the water main break. Andrew Barnes, General Manager of Public Utilities and City Engineer, gave a briefing of the PowerPoint presentation. Key points:  In mid-December there were complaints from customers between Maycox Street and Glenroy Street about low pressure.  Staff identified that the customers were serviced by 2” waterlines that ran behind the property. Staff also attempted to identify any visible leakage along the alignment. They tested some residents and discovered that they had low pressure.  The looked at a couple of options. One option was replacing the existing 2” water line which was not possible. Fences, sheds, and derelict vehicles would have to be moved or replaced, no record of easements and not a location of a water line.  They developed an idea to install a new waterline behind the sidewalks via Horizontal Directional Drilling, set new meters in the front and reconnect the homes to the new line.  They contacted Rain for Rent, which is an emergency utility solutions company, for an above ground bypass.  In Phase 2, the City obtained a new vendor, JCR Underground, to install a new waterline behind the sidewalk via Horizontal Directional Drilling. This is the same technique used for fiber optic and cable installation along the side of the road.  In Phase 3, Causeway Plumbing will reconnect all of the homes between Maycox Street and East South Boulevard to the new 4” waterline. They will set up new services taps and meter pits. The City will cap or abandon the service connections in the rear of the house and install meters in front. It should be a two-week process.  The City will clean, disinfect, flush, and sample the new line. They will also clean up debris and reseed denuded areas.  Total cost of project is estimated at $210,135. All work was procured through emergency procurement.  The 2” Galvanized Iron water line was installed behind the S. Crater Road properties before 1950. The pipe is about 70 years old. South Crater Road was not apart of the City until 1956. The typical life span is 60 years for the pipe.  Develop Emergency Response Plan and Standard Operating Procedures. . There was discussion among City Council and staff. City Council Members thanked staff for a job well done with fixing the emergency waterline project. 10. STREETS: *No items for this portion of the agenda. 11. FACILITIES: Mrs. Benavides stated, “This would be a perfect time Mrs. Innis, if you would give us on the facilities update on what is happening with the courts building.” *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on February 2, 2021 - 14 – ______________________________________________________________________________ Mrs. Innis stated, “Yesterday, we were notified that there was an extensive amount of water in the General District Court. The roof fell in several areas. I contacted a contractor yesterday to come out an do a brief assessment of the roof. We have since received a proposal for $43,000 to have the full roof replaced. That process can possibly take two to three weeks for the actual contractor to perform the replacement of the roof. We initiated an emergency purchase through out procurement team. We anticipate having the purchase order within the next 24 to 48hrs and for the contractor to begin that process. That is the most update that we have ma’am.” Mr. Lyons stated, “Mrs. Innis and I and we are inviting Mr. Williams to join us, soon we finish this meeting we are heading over to Judge Lupold’s Office to talk about this. And for us to figure out what the other options are. If you have visited the site yesterday it is principally in the General District Court. Which is Judge Lupold’s piece. The initial thing that came about was a roof collapsed. It is not a roof collapse it is a compromise, which is not uncommon. We have had problems all along. There are pictures that staff and others have taken of roof that as a part of this process, a roof replacement is our only option for this building right now. However, if you put the weight of the ice and snow on it. “It compromised the court room. But we are still going to go over to Judge Lupold’s and let him know about all the options for housing his court and to allow him to tell us what works for him. And our staff will do everything that we possible can to provide for him what him and his staff needs.” 12. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: a. Update and information on the Technology Zone Expansion. Jeremy Tenant, Assistant to the City Manager, gave a PowerPoint presentation on the Technology Zone Expansion. Key points:  Any City, county or town can establish, by ordinance a technology zone. Each locality may grant tax incentives and provide certain regulatory flexibility in a technology zone.  Tax incentives may be provided for up to ten years and may include, but not limited to, reduction of permit fees, reduction of user fees and reduction of any type of gross receipts tax.  The governing body may also provide for regulatory flexibility in such zone which may include special zoning for the district.  There are 79 Technology Zones Statewide in Virginia Economic Development Partnerships (VEDP).  They consist of technology research: Data Centers, Software, Cybersecurity, and unmanned systems. They consist of design and manufacturing: advanced materials, aerospace, automotive, wood products and food and beverage processing.  The purpose of the City of Petersburg Technology Zone is to allow and encourage certain classes of high technology business activities that have special economic significance t the City due to the nature of the technology and potential for high growth in employment and capital investment.  The intent and three elements for the technology zone is to improve economic conditions, hasten redevelopment and benefit the welfare of its citizens.  A list of issues to be considered regarding the sire at 801 South Adams Street: a) Residential land uses adjacent to the property will be impacted by operations, therefore development and site use will need to consider and potentially mitigate impacts, b) The current zoning, residential business district permits laboratories but does not permit industrial/ manufacturing uses, c)road and signal improvements may be required to accommodate an increase in traffic and, d) uses and site specification requirements associated with Technology Businesses are unknown.  Staff recommends a study regarding the site specifications and land uses of technology *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on February 2, 2021 - 15 – ______________________________________________________________________________ businesses by the Economic Development Authority (EDA).  Staff recommends a study regarding the potential impacts of a technology business development on the adjacent neighborhoods.  Staff recommends business site specifications and land uses are identified and an impact study is completed. They also recommend city council consider an ordinance establishing a Technology Zone at 801 South Adams Street. There was discussion among City Council and staff. Council Member Cuthbert asked Mr. Lyons how much time he will need to bring City Council back a report. Mr. Lyons stated that it would be roughly 60 to 90 days if not before then. 13. CITY MANAGER’S AGENDA: Mr. Lyons stated, “There are several things that the City Manager asked me to note today. We did talk about the district court issue and we are going to try and resolve that. The second thing that is a part of the report is that you all should have gotten an updated email report from me yesterday about the Jarratt House. A big thank you to Ms. Sangregorio and Mr. Tabor for that updated report and moving us forward. Earlier last week, I know that there have been several questions about CDBG and what is the process for moving that forward. Mr. Tabor and I sent you all a calendar last week that should have been reflective in your email that highlights some of the issues. I want to go back, as we were even talking about the issue just a moment ago about the technology zone and Mr. Tennant kept talking about the involvement and engagement of the need for EDA. As you all were talking earlier, and you were talking about the committees and subcommittees and who is on it and who is not. One of the things that I want to give a big kudos to is to Mr. Tennant, Mr. Tabor, Mr. Claiborne, and Ms. Cynthia Boone. January EDA meeting, I can say to you all that since I been here has probably been the most informative and engaging meeting that has happened. The members were engaged in the conversation. I left there that night and told Mr. Tennant and others that those are the way that we do meetings because we give members of the commission a reason to come back. With that being said I also am working with Mr. Tennant and others, that we are working on the February 18th EDA meeting. One of the things, as a part of this conversation we were just on the phone today about doing some one-on-one training which will take place. But the second thing is that we also got a proposal from South Central Water Authority with property over at Roper that needs to be involved in that process. I think I shared a little bit with the Mayor and council members as to how we engage the community in that process. The other view things that I have is that this week we spent a lot of time and Chief Christian and his staff along with Mr. Gerrit VanVoorhees and Mr. Robert Slovak are doing an excellent job with the conversion of the police department cad system. We were on the phone with some of the vendors trying to get all of that crystalized for a rollout. It is a transition and sometimes there are hiccups and shake-ups. But I am really pleased with the progress that we are making. Mr. Christian has already articulated the fact that there are some concerns. But we are moving forward to get that conversion taken place. We have been spending a lot of time with our Interim Fire Chief. I can tell you all that we did not get a fire chief out of our recruitment but one thing we got is a fire expert that is helping us in terms of reshaping and figuring out how to address the internal inequity, recruitment and staffing issues within the department in working with the consultant firm. He and I and Mrs. Robinson have been meeting on an ongoing basis so I cannot say enough about him in terms of that process. One of the things that I mentioned before is that we do have, and I shared information with each of you, about the potential and next planning commission meeting that talks about information about report on small box discount stores and alternate financial institutions. That item is scheduled to go in front of the planning commission tomorrow. That group will meet *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on February 2, 2021 - 16 – ______________________________________________________________________________ and have a recommendation to get back to you all as soon as possible to provide a presentation and update on that piece. But finally, as a part of this process as we move forward with work study sessions, I think that it is important, if we are open to it, to bring you project updates about planning and economic development. For the first time, we can tell you about everything that is going on in this City. Second, we can talk to you about the disposal and process on the latest as it relates to the sale of City owned properties. Thirdly, we can bring you all of you up to date as it relates to blight log and code in that process. Last, but not least some of the financial things as well as our desire to continue and constantly improve our collection for utilities. So, at your future work study there are some items that are very critical, and I hope that it helps on behalf of the manger as a part of her report.” Mayor Parham stated, “Thank you Mr. Lyons. We have a tentative council meeting scheduled for next Tuesday at 12pm to go over the rate study and get bond counsel to the table if that works with them.” Mr. Lyons stated, “Yes, sir. We will work with them. Internally, we are scheduled to meet on Monday. We were trying to do it this week but Monday we will go over our internal piece. We will engage bond counsel in that process along with staff to be able to provide that update to you on next week.” Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “Mr. Lyons, you said something about the consulting firm with the fire department.” Mr. Lyons stated, “Yes ma’am. One of the things that we are working with is an outside group because when we initially went out, we started to talk about a lot of things that we have going on. We started out trying to hire a chief. And that is a separate issue. One of the things that we have been working on for a period is that there have been some internal challenges and equity about, we have several people in the fire department and in the police department that have served an interim role for long periods of time. And that has created some grievance and equity issues. And instead of just hiring a position what we have asked and what we are working with Chief Liebold on and this outside group that sets the standard. Whenever you hire or promote there must be standards. And one of the things that have been unfortunate about our organization is that our standards that we have been using are outdated. And so, we need a consultant that is working with us to help and make sure that we roll out positions for recruitment that we have updated them to meet the standards for the process of solving a problem and resolving an issue. We are not creating additional issues which have manifested itself here in our City for a period. The City Manager who is back on the line, she may have additional comments on that. But in terms of working with an outside consultant group to help us, we think that it will ultimately move us in the right direction in that process.” Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “So, you started off talking about people who had served interim roles but aren’t there HR laws, policies and rules which dictate how long a person can stay in an interim position before they would start getting a salary of the person who they replaced for a while and how long they can actually stay in that position if the job is open to them without having to go to a consultant to address that issue.” Mrs. Benavides stated, “So, the consultant is addressing the issue. Our organization has a history of keeping people in long term interim roles unfortunately. I believe that the requirement is a year. But there has been some movement in fire, for example, where folks would serve for an amount of time and they would be moved around. They never get to that full length of time. Part of what is required is a steep promotional process. Chief Miller when he was here put together a promotional process to kind of address those issues. So, we started down that route, but we have so many people serving in provisional roles that it is a roll down. So, if you look at fire your highest position is your chief and then you have your provisional chief and then you have the division director and then the battalion chief. We have battalion chiefs who served for a long period of time, but they were captains. So, what we are doing is that we started internally on updating the promotional process and found that there are a lot of standards especially dealing with public safety that you must adhere *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on February 2, 2021 - 17 – ______________________________________________________________________________ to. So, in with Chief Liebold we are working on updating those promotional policy process to ensure that this does not continue to happen. It has been a long-standing issue and it predates any of use as far as the interims. It started when I first got here under Chief Rubin to start the promotion process but there were some challenges that came up even considering that promotional process. So, our goal is not to get it done but to get it done right and to make sure that it is without flaw. So, we are working with our City Attorney to get some updates to our policy. We are not just reviewing the promotional process we are also going back and reviewing all positions to see if there are things that slipped through the cracks where people have been serving not officially as an interim but during the function of the job and not being compensated and not being credited. So, we are working on an overall audit starting with fire to make sure that we address that through human resource department.” There was discussion among City Council and staff. 14. BUSINESS OR REPORTS FROM THE CLERK: Ms. Jackson stated, “I have no items, but I would like to have Mr. Williams if possible, on his portion to give just a briefing on items that are voted on during the work session, like the 1st readings or the scheduling of public hearings. So, that all the department heads in this meeting and council can understand it. Because there were questions on it. But if he can explain it on his portion that would be helpful.” 15. BUSINESS OR REPORTS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY: a. First Reading and request to schedule a public hearing on or before March 14, 2021. The Continuity of Government Ordinance previously adopted by Council expires on March 14, 2021. This Ordinance replaces the prior ordinance and will extend the emergency operation provisions through August 16, 2021. BACKGROUND: Council’s current Continuity of Government Ordinance expires on March 14, 2021. To continue operating under the emergency provisions, council must schedule a public hearing and adopt this ordinance on or before March 14, 2021. If adopted, council may continue to operate under the emergency provisions through August 16, 2021, unless rescinded prior to that date by council through adoption of a rescission ordinance. RECOMMENDATION: Adopt ordinance. Mr. Williams stated, “So, the clerk kind of foreshadowed what I was planning to do in the report today. And that is that if you notice on the agenda that item 15a we have got the first reading and a request to schedule a public hearing under my business report. And the question came up during the agenda review meeting as to the extent to which or what council can be doing in terms of voting. As this is council’s first work session it certainly would be a good idea to share that with you. I have discussed this with council previously and at the time that this was presented the rule that council was operating under was presented to council. This was something that came up and one of the questions that came up is that if we adopt this process is it going to slow down what council currently does. Some of your agenda items, ordinances require two readings. It requires a first reading and then a second reading. So, the language that council adopted in it is amended rules provides that no formal action for council shall occur in a work session. So, there is something in the law that is known as the rule plain reading for statutory construction. And what that means is that if an item is not defined in a statue expressly then a court or in this case city council will give it its plain meaning. And so, the issue that you are faced with is what is the plain meaning of a formal action. And I would say that the plain meaning is what is currently considered in just about in any other locality. So, formal action is typically defined as the adoption or the resolution of an ordinance or the approval by motion of any motion other than procedure motion for the purpose of conduction of the meeting. It is typically to not include things like first reading or to *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on February 2, 2021 - 18 – ______________________________________________________________________________ schedule public hearings when you are given direction to staff. Where you are telling someone to research this further and bring it back with information for adoption. So, the purpose of the work session is to do exactly what happen in that last presentation that Jeremy made. And that was to give you information in advance before you called upon to take a vote and act. And so, the current language that you have is sufficient. It says no formal action of council can occur in a work session. Which means that you can do scheduling of a public hearing and you can do first readings and you can direct staff, just like you did in the last presentation that Jeremy did to proceed to come back with something to you. Or you can direct us to research an item. So, that is what should be presented in a work session. If you do not, otherwise your items are going to be slowed instead of enhanced by having work sessions. Because items that ordinarily would have taken two meetings in a month. So, one to complete will take double that time. This item that I have listed on the agenda, this is the ordinance that would allow council to hold these remote meetings. It also suspends certain deadlines. This must be adopted by council on or before March 14, 2021. So, you would think that we would have plenty of time to adopt that. We do not unless you have the first reading at this meeting. Because if you have the first meeting at your next regular scheduled meeting you would not be able to adopt it until the 16th. Which you are going to miss your deadline for adopting these things before it expires. So, by a necessity council must present and receive presentations and scheduling public hearings at its work session. So, if council was inclined to direct me as you certainly can do in a work session to bring this back to you at your business meeting for consideration with the amendment we can. Legally it is not necessary but if council would like that included for clarification, I would certainly be glad to do that. I would lay that before council as to whether you want me to do that. Certainly, give me your directions going forward.” There was discussion among City Council Members and staff. Mayor Parham stated, “Mr. Williams you can prepare this, and we will adopt this at the next meeting.” Mr. Williams stated, “Yes sir. I will prepare the amendment to the Rules of Council, but I would ask that council direct that the public hearing be scheduled for the next business meeting on the emergency operations ordinance for your consideration of adoption at that meeting.” Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “Just question and I think that it goes to the City Attorney, but I am not sure and that is why I am asking you now. I would like for us, and I guess it would have to be in closed session, to have an update on the City Manager position. Do we ask in this meeting to have that update in closed session at the next meeting?” Mr. Williams stated, “Yes ma’am. You can direct that I schedule that or have that item prepared for your discussion at the next meeting in a closed session.” Mayor Parham stated. “Okay. We will make sure that we have a closed session before the meeting on next Tuesday.” Council Member Hill made a motion to set the public hearing for February 16, 2021, for the second reading and adoption for the continuity of government ordinance. The motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Smith-Lee. There was discussion among City Council Members and staff. The motion was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Wilson-Smith, Myers, Hill, Hart, Smith-Lee, and Parham Council Member Cuthbert stated, “What is your thought and what are the thoughts of council in general on bringing the Virginia Employment Commission lot public hearing before council. Is that something also that we can schedule for February 16th or do you have some other time in mind for that?” Mayor Parham stated, “I plan on adding that at the next meeting on the 9th before the meeting on the 16th. Because we have a special called meeting on the 9th.” *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on February 2, 2021 - 19 – ______________________________________________________________________________ Council Member Cuthbert stated, “Will that give us enough time if we decide on the 9th to advertise for the 16th to go into the newspaper on the 10th. Is that going to be enough time Mr. Williams?” Mr. Williams stated, “I would defer to the clerk. She is going to need at least once a week for two consecutive weeks. And I am not sure what lag time she would have getting it the newspaper and the process.” Council Member Cuthbert stated, “Well she is sure not going to be able to get it in two weeks between February 9th and February 16th. I am not sure she is able to get it in if it goes in the newspaper tomorrow. It is not going to be two weeks.” Ms. Jackson stated, “That is correct. If I get it would have to go in tomorrow and it would have to go in on Tuesday, the 9th. But I can see because I did talk to them today and told them that I would sending them another legal ad. Because they have branched out to another agency that is running their classified ad.” Council Member Cuthbert stated, “If you would, would you let us know. I have a feeling that the answer is going to be no.” Ms. Jackson stated, “I would let you know.” 16. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Barbara Rudolph, 1675 Mt. Vernon Street, stated “This new format of having the work session meeting was very good. These reports were so informative that I look at the agenda and got a lot of it and even more out of the meeting today. So, I wanted to thank everyone and hope that you continue it. And that it remains as informative and helpful as it was today. One thing that was touched upon was boards and commissions. I think Councilwoman Treska Wilson-Smith brought that up. Remember Attorney Williams had a proposal about that. And I hope that it has not died off because that was good. And when you talk about it, I hope that is part of the conversation. I also wanted to specifically point out that the legislative report that was in the packet and not the one that you talked about today because I realized what is in the packet was helpful. But I want to comment Mrs. Adams-Jacobs for that it was good. And finally, on the rate study that you mentioned having a meeting about in a week. I hope that is something that the public will have plenty of time to be exposed too. Last time we had a rate study and a rate increase there was two public meetings and I think a public hearing too. I believe there must be a public hearing with that. So, I am looking forward to a lot of information on that. Anyway, it was a very good meeting and thank you very much for allowing us to participate.” Mr. Lyons stated, “Yes Mr. Mayor, I want to say one thing. I sent you all an email from Mr. Travis Christian. And it talked about the issue of illegal dumping. The two of us met last week. And I want to give him and his crew a big kudos. It is something that needs to be applauded because we spent a lot of man and woman power and dollars and cents cleaning that up. And this issue is not just limited to that location.” Mayor Parham stated, “Yes Mr. Lyons. That is something that is very important. Because that is a problem that we have had here for quite some time. Which is people illegal dumping in the area at night. And it is just kudos to our Petersburg Police Force for catching one of the corporates in that. And hopefully we can prosecute to the full extent of the law to set that bar that we are not going to allow people to come to Petersburg and just dump. Because this has been going on for years. And like you said we have been at so much of a reactive state after it happens trying to clean up things like tires and mattresses and things of that nature.” Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “I had sent an email about the fire hydrant on South Boulevard *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Work Session meeting held on February 2, 2021 - 20 – ______________________________________________________________________________ and a big, gigantic tank truck which was in the vacant parking lot of the former plaza. And whoever it was had a pipe or hose leading from that truck to the fire hydrant. Did anyone ever go look at it?” Ms. Tyus stated, “Yes ma’am. Chief Christian sent someone by and if he is on the line, he can update us on whether he saw anything. He sent someone by the very next morning to see if we can see if this was going to be a repeat offender. If Chief Travis is on the call, he might can give you an update, but we absolutely sent someone out to look at it for the next two days after you called us.” Council Member Wilson-Smith stated, “Thank you. And I can talk to Chief Christian later. I just thought about.” 17. ADJOURNMENT: City Council adjourned at 4:15 p.m. _________________________ Clerk of City Council APPROVED: _________________________ Mayor *Audio available upon request.